Dive Summary:
- According to a report released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a variety of fish poisoning called ciguatera caused 28 New York city residents to report feeling sick from July 2010 to August 2011.
- Authorities could not determine what caused the spike in ciguatera cases; while those 28 cases were more than the combined total of the preceding decade, the CDC said that as few as 10% of all cases were actually reported.
- Ciguatera is a type of severe food poisoning caused by toxins found in coral reef fish such as barracuda, grouper, snapper, amberjack and surgeonfish; poisoning can result in symptoms of dizziness, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, tingling in the extremities and an assortment of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological problems.
From the article:
"... The report highlighted the case of one man, who was physically fit before he ate the bad fish, and even after being treated, had difficulty walking for several months.
The majority of patients with ciguatera experience symptoms within 6 to 48 hours, and the initial treatment options are limited. Essentially, according to the report, patients are treated according to the best care practices for each symptom.
If someone eats a fish with high levels of toxin, there is an 80 to 90 percent chance they will fall ill, according to the report. ..."
